Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the FAQ page of Empire Quilters. We gladly accept suggestions for what to include on this page. Please send your suggestions to contact us.
Guild Information
- When does the guild meet?
- Where are the guild meetings?
- How do I join Empire Quilters?
- Do I need to be able to quilt before I can join?
- What are the benefits of guild membership?
- When will I get my guild membership card?
- Will I learn to quilt if I join Empire Quilters?
- How/when will I get the password to the newsletter and board minutes?
- What time should I arrive for guild meetings?
- Do I need to be a member to attend guild meetings?
- Do I need to be a member to attend guild board meetings?
- When and where do the board meetings take place?
- Who is on the Board of Directors?
- Can I send in a picture of one of my projects for the website?
- How do I participate in the Block of the Month Feature?
- Can I get a photo of my Show & Tell quilt?
- Do I need to be a member to attend guild workshops?
- How do I sign up for a guild workshop?
- Do I need to be a member to attend guild focus groups?
- I have an idea for a focus group. What do I do about that?
- Do I need to be a member to go on guild bus trips?
- How do I sign up for a guild bus trip?
- How do I download guild documents?
- How can I stay informed about guild activities?
- How can I contact a particular guild member?
- How can I get my event listed on your guild website?
- How can I get the guild newsletter?
- How do I submit a news item for the newsletter?
- How can I advertise in the guild newsletter?
- When is the next guild quilt show?
- Is there guild merchandise for purchase?
- Can I make a memorial donation to the Guild?
How-To: Quilting Information
- How to learn to quilt
- How to find fabric and quilting supplies in Manhattan
- How to make a Quilt Sleeve
- How to make a Postcard Quilt
- How to make a Fabric Thimble
F.A.Q. Answers
When does the guild meet?
Guild meetings usually take place on the second Saturday of each month from September to June. Occasionally we need to change a meeting weekend due to a holiday, or speaker schedule, and if so, that change will be noted in the newsletter and on the website. The next meeting date is always posted on the home page of the website.
The guild Board of Directors meets in the mornings on meeting days (members are welcome to attend), and the main guild business meeting takes place in the afternoon. The various special events for each meeting are announced on the home page of the guild website. We sometimes have focus groups or workshops in the mornings (starting anywhere between 10:00 am and 11:00 am), and again after the main part of the meeting (approximately 3:00 pm). All activities usually end around 4pm on meeting days.
Where are the guild meetings?
Most meetings take place at the Church of the Holy Apostles at the address listed below, but be sure to check the website and newsletter for any room changes. All are welcome! Meetings are free to members (Guest Fee: $10.00).
Church of the Holy Apostles
296 Ninth Ave (@28th St)
New York, NY 10001
The meeting location is conveniently located near subways and buses and train stations.
Note that prior to the 2011–2012 guild season, meetings took place at Fashion Insitite of Technology (F.I.T.). We had a great time at F.I.T., but we outgrew the space! We are grateful to everyone at F.I.T. for the many fabulous years, and are excited about our new venue at the Church of the Holy Apostles.
How do I join Empire Quilters?
Mail in a completed membership form, or come to a meeting to join. Read all about the various activities that happen at meetings by visiting the Membership page of this website.
›› Membership Form (PDF format) ‹‹
Do I need to be able to quilt before I can join?
No, you do not need to be a quilter in order to join Empire Quilters. We have many members who do not (yet!) quilt, or who are thinking about learning to quilt, or who simply love seeing the quilts and the process of quilting.
What are the benefits of guild membership?
There are many benefits to guild membership. Members are a part of a lively, talented and energetic group of quilters who are interested in furthering the art and craft of quilting and to sharing our work with others. We are one of the largest quilt guilds in the country — and we are growing every year. Members share their tips and techniques, and learn by listening to many of the internationally known presenters that come to our guild each year.
Members are kept up-to-date with quilting activities throughout the area via an information-packed monthly newsletter and an exceptional guild website. And all of this is possible because of the dedication of our many volunteers. Please visit the Membership page of this website for additional detailed information about our monthly meetings.
In addition to monthly meetings, the guild has many other activities, including bus trips to area quilt shows and regional shopping centers, demonstrations at area museums, and monthly workshops and focus groups to list a few. Complete guild activities are listed each year on the Calendar page of the website.
By joining Empire Quilters you will find friends who share your interest in quilting. You will be able to further your knowledge of quilting techniques and the history of quilting in the U.S. and abroad. You will be able to participate in the guild's mission of providing handmade quilts to charities in the New York metropolitan area. You can be guaranteed of an opportunity to participate in the guild's operations because, frankly, we can use all the help we can get! We are a group of dedicated (and sometimes over-worked) volunteers.
All of the benefits listed so far do not fit well into a list, because they are dependent on how much you want to participate. There are many exciting opportunities for every member. Here is a short list of some of the more tangible benefits of membership:
- entry to 10 monthly meetings (September to June)
- opportunity to show your work at meetings
- eligibility to take part in focus groups
- eligibility to enter the biennial show
- eligibility to participate in Block of the Month
- guild newsletter
- discounts at local quilt shops
- use the guild lending library of books, magazines and videos
- eligibility to participate in guild sponsored charitable quilting work
When will I get my guild membership card?
Membership cards can be picked up at guild meetings before the general business meeting, at the membership check-in desk. We do not routinely mail membership cards to members. If you cannot attend a meeting, you may have a friend pick up your card, our you can send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the guild, and a card will be mailed to you.
Will I learn to quilt if I join Empire Quilters?
Yes, and No. There are many opportunities to learn specific techniques by attending guild focus groups and workshops that are led by either talented guild members or renowned visiting experts. But these are not generally structured to teach every aspect of quilting in a classroom environment. You may learn, for example, the needle-turn appliqué method in a workshop or focus group, but that group won't cover color selection, or batting suggestions, or quilting methods. If this "technique-at-a-time" method works for you, then Yes! you will learn to quilt.
If you learn better via a classroom setting, we suggest that you take a basic quilting class at a local quilt shop. We have many such shops in the metopolitan area, and they have excellent classes and fabulous instructors. If you need a place to start, visit the Resources page of this website. There you will find listings of our area newsletter advertisers. Many of them offer classes for all levels of quilting students.
How/when will I get the password to the newsletter and board minutes?
Ask at the meetings, or write to contact us. Once your membership is verified, you will be given the password.
What time should I arrive for guild meetings?
That depends!… The guild has many activities on meeting day, and you are welcome to attend any, or all of these events. There are occasionally focus groups that take place in the mornings, beginning anywhere between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The guild's Board of Directors meets at 11:00 a.m., and members are welcome to attend those meetings. General meeting check-in takes place from 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. The guild Library is also open for business between 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. The business portion of the meeting begins at 1:00 pm, and that business meeting is usually followed by a presentation or speaker, or activity. Other activities throughout the afternon include Show & Tell, Quilter of the Month Presentation, Montly Fundraisers, and Scrap/Share table. All of this is often followed by more focus groups meeting until 4:00 p.m.
The best way to keep up with what is happening when on each meeting day, is to watch the home page of the website or our facebook page.
Do I need to be a member to attend guild meetings?
No. Guests are welcome at guild meetings. The guest fee is $10, with a limit of three meetings a year. We hope that after you have attended one or two meetings, you will become a member.
Do I need to be a member to attend guild board meetings?
Yes. Guild members are welcome at board meetings.
When and Where do the board meetings take place?
Meetings of the guild's Board of Directors usually take place on the morning of the monthly guild meeting. The location varies based on what other activities are taking place, but the board generally meets at the Church in the separate room off the apse.:
Church of the Holy Apostles
296 Ninth Ave (@28th St)
New York, NY 10001
The meeting locatin is conveniently located near subways and buses and train stations.
Who is on the Board of Directors?
The Board of Directors is made up of an Executive Committee (President, two Vice Presidents, Treasurer and Secretary) and the chair persons of the guild committees. Those committees and individuals are listed on the Contact page.
Can I send in a picture of one of my projects for the website?
Yes! Members can send photos in to contact us and we will post those photos in the Show & Tell section of the website. If you can't be at a meeting, or if you need to give away your quilt before the meeting (birthday quilt, wedding quilt, etc.), OR if you are just too shy to get up in front of an audience send in a picture of your work, and we'll post it!
We encourage members to keep a photographic record of their work, and also encourage members to share those photos with the guild. We all learn a lot from seeing the work done by others. So keep taking those photos, and send them in so we can share them!
How do I participate in the Block of the Month Feature?
Make a block! All guild members are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Block of the Month feature. Make the Block of the Month, bring your block (or blocks!) to a meeting, and one participant will be chosen (randomly) to receive all the blocks that were made that month. This is a great way to learn one a new technique, or use some of your favorite fabrics. All of the details can be found on the Block of the Month page of this website.
Can I get a photo of my Show & Tell Quilt?
No. This is not a service that is provided by the guild. The guild's photographer takes photos for the guild website, and we have no arrangements to obtain prints for individual members.
We encourage members to bring their own camera and take pictures at Show & Tell. You can ask a friend to take a photo of you and your quilt with your camera.
Do I need to be a member to attend guild workshops?
No. Workshops are open to both members and non-members on a first-come first-served basis. Reservations (with deposits) are required for the workshops, and payment in full is due by the date of the workshop. Early reservations are always advised because many of our workshops fill up quickly.
Details of workshops (times, topics and supply lists) are post on the Workshops page of the website as the details are known. Keep checking that page!
How do I sign up for a guild workshop?
Sign-up procedures vary slightly for each workshop, so check the Workshops page of this website for particulars. Generally reservations (with deposits) are required for the workshops, and payment in full is due by the date of the workshop.
Checks should be made out to Empire Quilters and given (or sent) to Workshop Committee Chair Mary Butler. Mary's contact information is available in the guild Membership Directory, or you can email contact us and her address will be sent to you.
Cancellations received up to 7 days prior to the workshop will generally be refunded in full. If you cancel after that, refunds will be made only if a replacement student can be found. Early reservations are always advised because many of our workshops fill up quickly.
Do I need to be a member to attend guild focus groups?
Yes. Focus groups are members-helping-members, and we require that you are a member of Empire Quilters before you attend a focus group. You may join on the day of the focus group, but your dues must be paid before the group meets.
If you do plan to join Empire Quilters on the day of the focus group, please bring a completed Membership Form with you (with your dues check). Our focus group leaders are volunteers, and we are grateful to them for their topic preparations (we don't want them to also have to do membership sign-ups!)
TO RENEW OR JOIN ONLINE CLICK HERE
I have an idea for a focus group. What do I do about that?
Notify Focus Group Chair Beth Pile. (You can reach her via info@empirequilters.net). There may already be a focus group planned on your topic, or one may be planned for a future date.
Members are also welcome to start other their own monthly sewing groups, either at the meeting or outside of it. Past seasons have incluced groups meeting to work on Elm Creek quilts, and Crazy Quilts.
Any guild member(s) interested in starting a new group (like a "Dear Jane" group!) should notify the guild's Board of Directors so that appropriate location space can be arranged. To spread the word about your group, we encourage you to place an article in the guild's monthly newsletter to solicit other interested members, and we ask that you send information to contact us to have your activity listed on the guild website.
Do I need to be a member to go on guild bus trips?
No. Bus trips are open to both members and non-members on a first-come first-served basis. Reservations (with deposits) are required for the bus trips, and payment in full is due by the date of the trip. Early reservations are always advised because many of our bus trips fill up quickly.
How do I sign up for a guild bus trip?
Sign-up procedures vary slightly for each trip. Details of each trip will be posted on the Notices page. Generally reservations (with deposits) are required for the trips, and payment in full is due in advance.
Checks should be made out to Empire Quilters and given (or sent) to the Trip Committee Chair.
General Information for all trips:
- A deposit (if amount is published) will hold your seat until the deadline. Full payment is due by deadline.
- We accept cash (at meetings only), checks and money orders. Make checks payable to Empire Quilters and bring those to a guild meeting or mail them to the guild Post Office Address (Empire Quilters, Old Chelsea Station, P.O. Box 1293, New York, NY 10113).
- Please note the trip destination on your check.
- A waiting list will be created if necessary.
- Deposits are non-refundable unless a replacement can be found on the waiting list.
- Registration is first-come, first served. Non-members are welcome to join us.
- Unless otherwise noted, buses depart from the Southeast corner of 31st Street and 8th Avenue, directly across from Penn Station.
- Please register as soon as possible. Trips may be cancelled if we do not have enough participation.
Direct any questions to the Trip Coordinator.
How do I download guild documents?
Most documents on the Empire Quilters website are posted in PDF format, and require the Adobe Reader — a free program from Adobe.
To download Adobe Reader, click this icon: 
Some documents are available to guild members only, and require a password. If you've forgotten the password, email the guild at contact us. We'll verify your membership, and email the password to you.
Some of our PDF documents open in a separate browser window. If your browser doesn't allow this, you may want to downlad the file to your computer, and view it directly from Adobe Reader. Here's how:
- In the web browser, right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the link to the PDF file, and then choose an option from the context menu to save the PDF file to a convenient location on the local hard drive (for example, the desktop).
- Start Acrobat or Adobe Reader, choose File > Open, and then select the PDF file that you saved in step 1.
- If you continue having trouble, Adobe has good troubleshooting information on their website: www.adobe.com
How can I stay informed about guild activities?
There are several ways to stay informed:
- Read the monthly newsletter. If you opt to receive the newsletter via email you will receive the newsletter (in PDF format) almost two weeks before the mailed version arrives in the mailbox.
- Check the website frequently. Any important notices will be mentioned on the home page.
- Become a fan of Empire Quilters Facebook page.
- Come to the guild meetings.
How do I contact a particular guild member?
The Empire Quilters Membership Directory is published once a year — usually in December. You will receive it with your December newsletter. Keep your copy so you can refer to it throughout the year. If you've lost your directory and need to contact a member, email contact us and after your membership is verified, we'll send the contact information to you.
Contact information for guild Executive Committee Members can be found in monthly newsletter.
How can I get my event listed on your guild website?
Note … this service is temporarily suspended
We list regional quilting events and activities of interest to quilters on the Shows & Events page our website, and we'll gladly list your event. Send complete information to contact us and be sure to include:
- Title of the event
- Date(s) and time(s) of the event
- Location of the event
- Cost of the event
- Indicate who is sponsoring the event
- Contact information: Name and email or telephone number of a person, or an organization's website address
- Any additional information about the event that attendees might want to know
Although our definition of "Regional" Event is fairly flexible, we normally include only those events that our members can actually attend on a day trip.
How can I get the guild newsletter?
You must be a member of Empire Quilters in order to receive the newsletter. To join, please refer to the Membership section of this website.
Members can receive their monthly newsletter either via mail or email. The advantages to email delivery include earlier receipt of the newsletter, saving the guild postage costs, and even saving a few trees by the reduced quantity of paper used.
To change your newsletter delivery method, email info@empirequilters.net and your request will be forwarded to the keeper-of-the-lists.
How do I submit a news item for the newsletter?
Guild members may submit news stories, items of interest, and book or show reviews to the Newsletter Editor. We include as many appropriate articles as space allows. The items must be sent in by the newsletter deadline, which is listed on the Newsletter page. Be sure to check this deadline, and get your articles in on time! Send your items via email to: newsletter@empirequilters.net
Guild members are invited to place a free, needle-art-related classified ad in the Newsletter. Ads can be no longer than 30 words and the Empire Quilters member name and phone number must appear in the ad. The Newsletter publishes a maximum of three consecutive listings. Contact Newsletter Editor Earamichia Brown at newsletter@empirequilters.net if you are interested.
How can I advertise in the guild newsletter?
Complete a Newsletter Advertising Form, and mail it in! We are extremely grateful to our faithful advertisers — they keep us up-to-date with their monthly features and the specials in their stores — and we welcome new advertisers. If you have questions, or would like a copy of the submission deadlines and a Advertising Submission form, contact Newsletter Advertising Committee at advertising@empirequilters.net.
Guild members are invited to place a free, needle-art-related classified ad in the Newsletter. Ads can be no longer than 30 words and the Empire Quilters member name and phone number must appear in the ad. The Newsletter publishes a maximum of three consecutive listings. Contact Newsletter Editor Earamichia Brown at newsletter@empirequilters.net if you are interested.
When is the next guild quilt show?
Our shows generally take place on odd-numbered years, usually in March. The most recent show took place March 23–24, 2019. Watch the website homepage for updates and information about the next show.
Is there guild merchandise for purchase?
Yes! We have T-shirts, pencils, tote bags, pins, lanyards and more! See the Collectibles page for up-to-date infomation.
Can I make a memorial donation to the Guild?
Yes. For a small donation ($10 or more) in honor of a friend, or in celebration of a special event, a colorful handwritten card will be sent to the gift recipient or family. Complete the Donation Form and send it in with your donation to the guild address. The gift card will be sent within two weeks, and you will receive an email letting you know the card was sent. — It's that simple!
How-To's: Quilting
How to learn to quilt
There are many ways to learn to quilt, and the method you choose is up to you:
- Learn by books: There are many How-To books in the guild library. You may also want to check out your local library or book shop, or fabric store.
- Learn by private lessons: Come to a guild meeting and you may find someone who is willing to teach you. You may also want to check out your local quilt shop. They may have, or know of instructors willing to take private students. Don't know where to find a quilt shop? Check out our Local Resources page. We list all of our guild newsletter advertisers, and they are a great resource. There's probably one right in your neighborhood.
- Learn by watching others: Come to a guild meeting — where you will meet fellow guild members who are experts, and where you will often hear presentations by renowned quiltmakers; attend a guild focus group to learn a specific skill; attend a workshop offerred by the guild; go to museums, and as many quilt shows as you can.
- Take a class: This is perhaps the fastest way to get an introduction to the art of quiltmaking. Most local quilt shops offer classes for quilters of all levels. Check out our Local Resources page for a quilt shop in your area. The classes offered at the shops in the Metropolitan area are excellent. Sometimes local schools offer classes, as do museums.
How to find fabric and quilting supplies in Manhattan
Your first stop should be the Resources page of this website. There you will find a listing of our generous advertisers (thank you, advertisers!). Then peruse our Guide to Fabric Shopping in Manhattan. The guide is updated annually, and we welcome suggestions. Email suggestions to: contact us
›› Guide to Fabric Shopping in Manhattan (PDF format) ‹‹
How to make a Quilt Sleeve
Instructions for making a sleeve to hang a quilt are available in PDF format:
›› Hanging Sleeve Instructions (PDF Format) ‹‹
How to Make a Postcard Quilt
Empire Quilters guild member June Calender has generously provided a great "how-to" handout.
›› Postcard Instructions (3-page PDF Format) ‹‹
How to Make a Fabric Thimble
Empire Quilters guild members Ligaya Siachongco and Jane Broaddus held this challenge for the June 2007 guild meeting.